And we're off!

Our road trip started early at 4am, with us waking up to daddy having cooked Indomie for us all. He was worried that we'd be hungry as we would be arriving in Besut at 9.30am. 

After breakfast, we went up to get shower or use the bathroom. Some of our bags were already loaded into the car the night before so that we could minimize the time spent loading the car. 

We managed to leave the house at the planned time of 4.45am. Soon we had crossed the Penang bridge and entered the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway. It was a short drive before we arrived in the Kulim High-Tech Park. Once we cleared that sector, the roads were VERY dark. Once in a while we'd meet a lorry or car. To our surprise, we discovered that daddy's car's headlights will turn off on the driver's side whenever it detects an oncoming car. Some sections were very misty too. 

After driving for around 1.5 hours, we needed to pee, so daddy stopped at one of the BHPetrol stations. We took quite a while as Mei-mei had a tummy ache and had some diarrhea. We hit the road again once everyone was ready and reached the Belum Resort. We had planned to have another stop there, but there was a gantry at the entrance and since no one needed a break, we continued on our way. (We later found out that they wanted to charge RM5 per entry into the resort, hence the gantry!).

It was soon getting brighter and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery and found that the temperature was very cool. Daddy opened the sunroof and we enjoyed the cool breeze and could even hear birds chirping outside our car! Can you imagine, the temperature dropped to 20 degrees Celsius even. 

Soon we were going to lower grounds again and arrived at Jeli. This section right up to Besut was a tougher drive as traffic was heavier, we were driving through towns and villages and obvious it was not as scenic as before. 

Waze for whatever reason directed us to a loooong route to the Besut office of our hotel. But we finally arrived (just on time) at 9.40am.

We "checked in" and had our bags tagged. Soon we walked over to the jetty to pay for our entrance tickets into the island and hopped into our waiting boat. 

We sat up front and it sure was a bumpy ride. Mei-mei had lots of fun and Ko-ko even took out his phone to take pictures. Daddy had to remind him to hold on tight to his phone.

We finally arrived at our resort's pier and none too soon as I was starting to feel woozy. In fact, I kept praying for Mei-mei to stop talking to me as it made me feel worst!

Our ride to Perhentian

Mei-mei's wind-blown hair

We were welcomed right at the pier and the staff brought our bags to the lobby while we walked with Josh from reception. We were given cool towels (wow.. so refreshing) and a cold, cold drink. 

You kiddies discovered a ping pong table and played a while:

Then since it was 11.30am, we decided to head to Sunset Deck to have lunch while waiting for our room. Before that, we signed up for the 3 points snorkeling trip. The waitress Boki informed us that food wasn't ready to be served but that we could have drinks first.. ok.. that works too!

Mei-mei with her "Alunan Sunset"

Soon we could place our orders. We went light as we planned to go for the 3 points snorkeling at 3pm:

Beef carpaccio

Margherita pizza

Quatro cheese pizza

Halfway through the meal, daddy received a message informing him that our room was ready. After  lunch, we headed back to reception where Josh brought us to our room, room #4. 

Welcome pack in our room

View from our room

Later while daddy and Ko-ko rested, Mei-mei got changed and we headed to the beach.

It was so-so hot, so we went in search of the swimming pool. 

Soon we headed back to the room to get ready for our snorkeling trip.

Celebration for Evan's Graduation and Evelyn's Last Day of School

We managed to arrive on time for our 7pm booking. We got a nice table on the ground floor. Ordered food to share (Ah Kong had his own pasta with no cheese). 

Random photo with my manja

Here is a photo taken by the waiter of the family:

He took of us at another angle:

My photo's refuse to come out in the right sequence. Here are the food we ate:

Evelyn's Milkshake

Requested for this.. regretted abit

Meat Platter

Dinner here was lovely as usual. And of course, service was spectacular

Evelyn's Awards Day

After a rushed lunch, we headed back to school. This time, we could not get a parking spot. We ended up parking on the road near McDonald's. Again, it was another walk back to the school. 

We were a little later than the guests of honor's arrival. 

Today you received 2 awards:

Music Award

Librarian Award

On top of receiving awards, today you were also an emcee/interviewer for the event. You would interviewed one of the top students as well as the parents of the stop students of the group.

It was a long day. We waited for you to finish and pack up then had enough time to head home for a shower and then dinner.

Year 11 Graduation and Awards Day

Today was an early day. We needed to drop you and Jeanni in school by 7.30am. We planned to have breakfast after dropping you all at school. In the end, daddy parked his car and we walked to the nearby McDonald's for breakfast. After that, we walked back to school where we needed to wait a little for the doors to the MPH to open for us. Parents with graduating students got to enter from a different entrance from the rest. 

Our tickets

While waiting for the ceremony to begin, daddy managed to get a photo of you seated. 

The ceremony started a little past 8am. I missed the earlier part as I had to wait with Aunty Amy for the delivery of flowers which she and Aunty Ean Na had ordered for you and for Abigail. 

The ceremony began and you received 2 awards for this year:

Best for Physics

Best for Business Studies

There were some prayers, words of congratulations etc before the graduation certificate was given out. You were the 3rd of the whole graduating year to receive your certificate:

When the event was over, the Year 11 students were so excitable. Everyone was signing of almost everyone's shirt. 

Signing someone's shirt

After quite a while inside the MPH, you monkeys adjourned to the photo booth where you spent another good 30 minutes taking photos and fooling around.

Daddy took this photo

Photo of you and your flower bouquets

A family photo

Here are some more photos from inside the MPH:

With Abigail

With your friends

With Abigail and family

We finally got to go home when you were done taking pictures and saying your goodbyes to your friends. 

Went to buy lunch then headed home to inhale our lunch before heading out to school again for round 2 with Mei-mei.

Asking Kakak

 Wondering where one of the yogurt bar is.. so mei-mei asked kakak:

"Mummy last time buy ini. She asking ini dimana?"

Oh dear... 

All the way in KL

This is another trip you took with the school. Daddy and I had to wake up with you at 5am to ensure you arrive in school at the stipulated 6am. 

I'm proud to say that you planned to get something for Mei-mei as you were to have dinner in Sunway Pyramid, which you are familiar with since we'd just visited less than a month ago.

You had messaged me whether the sweet you picked was correct and I had sent you the message, but since I replied late, you had already gone ahead and bought the sweet. 

I think you had fun. Eating with your friends and also visiting the colleges/universities: Sunway, Monash, Taylor's and MCKL. 

I'm quite glad that we have the "find my iPhone" app where we are able to know where you are. Not tracking you like stalkers, but knowing where you were helped assure us that you were safe. 

*Daddy misses you a lot

A French Toast Breakfast

Since we have leftover strawberries which Ko-ko had brought back, I decided to cook some French toast. Yes, I know the preferred choice would be pancakes.. but that would take me all morning to cook up a batch. Sorry.. maybe next time I have an assistant fryer, you can all have that!

School Trip - Cameron Highlands

You were not very happy on the location for the school trip, but I guess the consolation is having to spend time with your friends. 

Look at how full your bag is. Daddy had bought you 2 cup noodles (more like bowl) to eat in case the food was not satisfying or sufficient for you. Of course, you were also given sufficient cash and ewallet money just in case.

While you and Jeanni arrived in school by 6am, it seems that your bus only finally left the school at 8am! Some kids were late, another had to go back home because they forgot to bring along the IC. 

You arrived at Simpang Pulai at around 11.30am.

On and off, you'd drop either daddy or I a message to let us know what you were up to. I'm glad that you do that. We are happy to hear from you and to know how you are doing.

The last stop before going home was Ipoh. You said lunch was yucks.. but your plate was still clean:

Daddy had mentioned that as you were supposed to be in Concubine Street, our favourite kai si hor fun is just across the road. I had just messaged you to ask if you would go there to eat and I got this in response:

Yup! You were waiting for your order of noodles. You even brought some friends to try out the noodles too. And of course, that was the best meal you had this trip!

We picked you up from school and then headed straight to golf club for dinner. Lucky Mei-mei got a present from you: Cinnamoroll headbands. And coincidentally she was all decked up in Cinnamoroll (earrings, t-shirt). We were also treated to a box of strawberries which you had meticulously picked and inspected before putting into your box to purchase. 

Haircut

After bugging me for a long time (ever since your ballet exams were over), you finally got to have your so very long hair cut.

Forgot to take a before picture, so I quickly snapped a picture of the back (the sides were already snipped off by Marcus).

Quite a lot of hair was chopped off!

Ta-da.. my little girl with shorter hair:

Toe Nails

I need to keep a record of this conversation which happened one of the evenings during dinner.

Daddy: My God! Evan, why is your toe nails so long.

Evan: *no response*

Daddy: Do you need long toenails to play the guitar too?

Evan: *no response*

Mummy: *Laughing hysterically*

A few days later..

Mummy: Evelyn! Please cut your toenails. Why are they so long?

Daddy: Don't tell me you need them long to play the guitar too???